WHAT: Landscape/lawn equipment theft seminar
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 6
TIME: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
LOCATION: Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, Golden Gate
SUMMARY: The Collier County Sheriff’s Office will host a seminar for lawn-care businesses in an effort to cut back burglaries targeting these establishments.
CCSO Crime Prevention specialists will discuss lawn equipment theft crime trends, methods for securing businesses and property and employee security awareness.
The seminar is free and open to the public.
Participants are encouraged to bring their business cards to share with deputies.
Please RSVP to the CCSO Crime Prevention Unit at prevention@colliersheriff.org, or leave a message at 239.252.0703 by Monday, Dec. 3.
Deputies say these thefts occur mostly overnight and over the weekend. In many cases, the locks on utility trailers are cut in order for subjects to enter and remove the equipment stored inside.
CCSO offers the following tips to help deter criminals:
- Install/use additional lighting
- Reinforce all surrounding fences and gates
- Lock and secure all trailers including backing them up to a building to prevent entry
- Use monitored and audible security systems
- Install/use video surveillance
It is also helpful to keep an up-to-date inventory of all property including makes/brand names, models, and serial numbers. With good record keeping, deputies can properly document the stolen equipment.
